Snuggled in among the 800,000 acres of the White Mountain National Forest, settled at the base of the 6,288-foot Mt. Washington, is the Omni Mt. Washington Resort. Although it sounds singular -- and in many ways it is -- the resort is actually a group of four properties: the epic Spanish Renaissance edifice and National Historic Landmark that houses the Mt. Washington Hotel, the 19th century Bretton Arms Inn, The Lodge, and The Townhomes.

Among them there are nearly 300 rooms in addition to the 80 townhomes. Even better: there's a ghost. Now, ghosts in New England aren't exactly uncommon -- departed souls apparently have a thing for clam chowder -- but this ghost is royalty, and has her own lounge. Princess Carolyn Stickney Faucigny-Lucinge was the widow of the Mt. Washington's owner, and word is she's not ready to let go of her castle.

If you hurry, you can sneak in for the resorts Fall Colors package, which offers fall views, daily breakfast, and a carriage ride but ends October 28. If you can't make it by then there is still plenty to do: fourteen places to eat means you'll never be hungry, and working off the kilojoules can be done with alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, ice climbing and snow tubing, sleigh rides, winter hiking trails, a Canopy Tour on 10 ziplines... or the 25,000 square foot spa, because nothing says workout like "all-day massage."

Nightcaps won't be a problem either, since the resort has enough drinking spots to justify its opening its own distillery if it chose. And apres-ski, if you do your best Balzac impression and arrive with 50 pairs of gloves -- we hear princesses really like them -- perhaps the Her Highness Faucigny-Lucinge will join you. If you don't want to wait for her, ask for room 314 -- it's her favorite... haunt.

Care for a little alfresco dining? A pair of New Hampshire and Maine farms along with four award-winning chefs combine for one fabulous evening that includes a four-course meal and event held in the fields of Weston's Farm on the Saco River. August 29th is the date for the Second Annual "Fields on the Saco", an event that offers up the best of the season's harvest in a lavish feast for 100 under tents set up in the field. The menu will be accompanied by paired wines and Maine Cold River Vodka and will be presented by Chef Bryant Alden of the Chef's Market in North Conway, Executive Chef Brad Southwick of the White Mountain Hotel and Resort, Chef Jonathan Spak, co-owner of the Oxford House Inn, and Chef Jim Harrison of the Flatbread Company.

Hors d'oeuvres will include sweet corn fritters and scallops wrapped in pancetta with an Amaretto reduction. The meal begins with an appetizer of roulade of pork gratin with braised baby beets and butternut-apple coulis. The salad is baby spinach with grilled peaches and goat cheese with a maple pecan apple cider vinaigrette. The entree will be a mixed grill of tournedos of beef, lamb sausage, and chicken kebob with summer vegetables on a potato nest. The meal finished up with a blueberry polenta pound cake with honey and chevre semifreddo.

The event actually begins at 1 p.m. in the afternoon and includes far more than the dinner. There are guided farm tours, farm stores showcasing foods, flowers and local products. Cold River Vodka and complimentary wines will be offered with live music provided by Jazz Meisters and a "wet art" auction (wet art refers to paintings created on site). Winners of the Art-A-Ron-Dack Chair judging will be auctioned, offering bidders the chance to take home a unique chair and artwork combined. A Border Collie exhibition at Nerefield Farm on East Conway Road and a bonfire will round out the schedule. Each person attending the dinner will take home a beautiful Lead Wine Glass by Cristal d'Arques of France and a gift bag. Tickets are $125 each and the event will be limited to 100 people. Info on ordering tickets can be found on the Mount Washington Valley website.

Today's estate, Chaseholme, is located in the heart of the Cornish Art Colony in Cornish, New Hampshire. The Cornish Art Colony had its heyday from 1885 to 1917 and attracted creative types including Maxfield Parrish, Isadora Duncan and President Woodrow Wilson whose made his Harlakenden house in Cornish, his summer White House. Artists were drawn to Cornish's scenery and by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, the sculptor who had a large network of students and friends.

The original home was built in 1797 and has been renovated and expanded over the years. The approximately 6,000-square-foot residence now has seven bedrooms and the 13-acre property includes a heated pool, bath house, greenhouse, tennis court and barn. The Federal-style home has eight fireplaces and has been renovated with an eye to keeping the spirit of the original home. Some accommodations for modern tastes have been made, a bathroom with a fireplace in it also boasts a separate shower and spa tub. This home is listed at $1.15 million.

Experience more lush living in luxury homes and mansions or see the stars living large with celebrity homes galleries at AOL Real Estate.

In the summer months the American Red Cross often struggles to collect much needed blood because many potential donors are on vacation and colleges are not in session. In southern New Hampshire, International Cars, Ltd. and the American Red Cross have a unique solution to this problem. They are offering the Drive of a Lifetime, a summer promotion at the grand opening event for the new Porsche of Stratham and Audi Stratham. The care dealer is raffling off a one-year lease of a new Porsche to presenting blood donors in New Hampshire this summer. Those who donate between now and Sept. 30 will have the opportunity to enter to win. All who donate blood and visit any of International Cars' five New Hampshire locations can get a second entry through a test drive or vehicle service.

[via Fosters]

This traditional farm in Tamworth, New Hampshire might be the last place you might expect to find a bowling alley but it has one and it's decorated with animal heads too. Great Hill Farm is a private estate on nearly 72 acres which include hayfields and pastures, woodlands, expansive lawns and even a private pond with a sandy beach. The land includes an original two-story home which was constructed in 1785 and added to over the years for a total of seven bedrooms and 5,453 square feet of space.There is also a circa 1910 recreation/hunting lodge with a huge fieldstone fireplace, game room, loft and the bowling alley. There is also a separate garage with a tractor shed and shop complex, a guesthouse with two bedrooms and a four-stall barn with four vehicle bays and hay loft and a circa 1880 hay barn with equipment area. This home is listed at $2.25 million.

According to the New Hampshire Real Estate blog, this estate is the most expensive property for sale in New Hampshire. And that's even after it has been reduced by $2.5 million. Shapleigh island seems to be more of a peninsula than an island. It is located between New Castle and Portsmouth and is 7.7 acres of land surrounded by water on three sides. The home itself is a shingled rambler, over 14,000 square feet of space that includes five bedrooms. It's an attractive summery home with a gourmet kitchen, butler's pantry, billiard and media room, wine cellar with tasting room and a home gym. Outside the home has a pool and a pool house with a fireplace and an outdoor kitchen. There is also a dock and a six car garage. It is listed at $9.5 million. After the jump, New Hampshire goes luxe.

The name Alpacadance gives it away, this home is currently an alpaca farm (as well as a bed and breakfast). The neo-classical mansion in Walpole, New Hampshire was giving a loving makeover by the current owners in 2001. It has nine bedrooms, a beautiful foyer, an elegant dining room, quaint living room, an oh so quaint country kitchen. The home sits on 25 acres that include fields and a four-stall barn with a heated tack room. The home has ten rebuilt fireplaces, most of its original flooring, screened porches and columns. It is listed at $2.375 million. After the jump, many beds and breakfast.

The Boston Globe has a piece on the Two Guys Smoke Shop in New Hampshire which recently opened its second store, a franchise in Seabrook, New Hampshire. David Garofalo, one of the original "two guys" is hoping to start a chain of the shops stretching from the Northeast to Florida. The popular cigar store has been in business since 1985 and now does mail order. They started in Massachusetts but but were eventually chased off to tax-free New Hampshire by the Massachusetts cigar tax. The main Two Guys Smoke Shop in Salem, New Hampshire also offers a private club with billiards, baccarat and a cappuccino bar. Two Guys has 22 private labels and also offers a cigar of the month club (four cigars for $20 per month).

[via The Front Door]